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Product Details

About the Author

Madeline Miller was born in Boston and attended Brown University where she earned her BA and MA in Classics. She lives in Narbeth, PA with her husband and two children. The Song of Achilles was awarded the Orange Prize for Fiction and has been translated into twenty-five languages.

What People are Saying About This

Author-The Woman in the Window - A.J. Finn

“Rapture. Utter rapture. Exquisite, live-wire prose; a wave of a story, surging and ebbing and surging afresh; and above all, Circe herself  once inscrutable, now indelible. Miller has shaken the dust from Homer’s tapestry, blasted it with air and light, and exposed glorious new colors, new textures. A magnificent novel. A privilege to read.”

This artistic retelling makes an ancient story come alive as Ms Miller fills its nooks and crannies with the hopes, motivations, jealousies, and loves of the mythological characters - drawing in the reader to identify with and care about the fate of Circe.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Such a fun read and beautifully written. Characters were imagined and drawn just the way I felt they should be in my head. I found myself saying, YES, that&rsquo;s how he or she would talk. That would be their reaction. It was wonderful. A book I was sad to get to the end of.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Outstanding book so happy she wrote another after the song of Achilles and hope she continues writing

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Well written. Interesting read.

Millie_Hennessy

More than 1 year ago

This book was excellent! Miller’s writing is captivating and I loved how she wrote Circe’s character.
I really enjoy Greek (and Roman) mythology, but it tends to be a subject/genre I forget about. Like fairytales, myths can be sparse when it comes to character development and setting. I usually find myself wanting more details and Circe hits the spot.
Circe is stubbornly ignorant, determined and altogether too kind-hearted for her brethren. She’s scorned by her family for her “mortal” voice, which sounds shrill compared to the booming, commanding voices of the other gods. She doesn’t seek to scheme or gain power and most of her family looks down on her or flat-out ignores her. But when she meets a mortal on the beach, she finds companionship for the first time. It’s easy to see why she would fall in love, given how she was raised. Her refusal to see how things truly are persists throughout much of the novel, causing her grief – but I loved that. Yes, sometimes I wanted to smack her, but it made her relatable…human even! Considering the book is told from her POV and centers around her life, I’m glad I found her an enjoyable character. I really cared for her.
Despite Circe’s banishment, we do get to see more than just her island. Familiar tales weave their way around her life, including Troy, the isle where the Minotaur lives (totally forget the name and I’m not looking it up, deal with it) and of course, the halls of Helios.
There’s a wide cast of characters too and they all felt so real! I loved seeing the gods and the myths fleshed out. I’m no pro when it comes to mythology, but it felt like Miller added realistic details to the old tales and stayed true to their roots. I don’t care how much she’s embellished; it’s clear she’s done research and is passionate about mythology.
If you like Greek mythology, character journeys, magic, romance, drama, feels and female leads then I highly recommend you pick up Circe! I, for one, can’t wait to read more of Miller’s work.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I felt such a connection with Circe. It just goes to show that even a godess an feel alone and go through difficult times! Worth a read for sure.

taramichelle

More than 1 year ago

Growing up, I devoured as many books of Greek mythology as I could find. My copy of D’Aulaires Book Of Greek Mythology is literally falling apart due to repeated readings. Because of that, reading Circe felt like coming home. However, Miller’s stunning prose and insightful characterization elevated the familiar to the extraordinary.
As with The Song of Achilles, Miller brings her characters to vibrant life. They are not perfect, but they are perfectly flawed. Circe was such a complex character. She was strong but humble, fierce yet impetuous, and determined but lost. She was relatable at an entirely different level than most literary protagonists. Although this story has monsters, heroes, and magic, it’s ultimately about figuring out who you want to be and creating a place for yourself in the world.
While some readers may not like the slower pace of the writing, I felt liked it allowed me to truly immerse myself in the world. Miller explores a wide variety of themes in the various myths she chose to incorporate. Although they seemed a tad disjointed at first, I absolutely loved how seamlessly everything came together at the end.
Circe is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read. If you’re looking for excellent characters, an immersive world, and remarkable prose, definitely pick this one up.
*Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Very interesting twist on the legend of Circe fast read and very entertaining highly recommend

queenivanka

More than 1 year ago

My synopsis: Circe, daughter of Perse and Helios, was born “less than pleasing” and thus was neglected by her mother, father, and siblings. In her desire to love and be loved, she discovered a hidden talent: witchcraft. Threatened by her power – for Helios was a proud god, and Zeus, even more so – Circe was banished to the island of Aiaia. Isolated from everyone, she cultivated her art, cursed insolent mortals, raised her child, and stood against the gods.
Madeline Miller proves once again that she is a master weaver of words – she gives us Circe – a tale of a fierce woman, a daughter and a sister spurned, a goddess who is incredibly human, a formidable witch, a mother. It is a tale of self-discovery, of love lost, of motherhood, and of the power of love. The underlying sensuality of Miller’s prose is deeply captivating, and ultimately, it left me bewitched, charmed, and enchanted – as if Circe herself has put a spell on me.
Another thing I really appreciated were Miller’s apt characterizations: even with just one or two appearances within the text, told only in Circe’s point of view, in a couple of sentences here and there, the characters are complete. It is admirable and very difficult to achieve; I’ve read books where the author isn’t able to present a coherent or sound main character within the span of the entire work, let alone its secondary characters.
Ultimately, what made Miller’s version of Circe so interesting, is that instead of exploring the goddess side of Circe, Miller presented a very human account of Circe’s tale: even in her immortality and formidable power, Circe is compassionate, she craved companionship, and she admitted her weaknesses.
Circe is for lovers of mythology, of strong female protagonists, and simply, it is for lovers of beautiful prose. If you liked The Song of Achilles, I can’t imagine you not liking Circe – I really liked The Song of Achilles, but I loved Circe!

Anonymous

17 days ago

The+title+of+this+review+says+everything.+

Anonymous

25 days ago

Powerful depiction of Circe and this part of the Odyssey.

bamcooks

5 months ago

What an excellent retelling of the mythological story of the goddess Circe! She is a daughter of Helios, the god of the sun, who, knowing herself to be unloved and unwanted, uses a bit of knowledge of herbs to weave spells to get what she desires with disastrous results. She is then exiled to the island of Aiaia where she further develops her skills of witchcraft and where she still manages to meet some of the great heroes of legend, including Odysseus.
I enjoyed that Circe seemed to grow in wisdom. 'My whole life, I had waited for tragedy to find me. I never doubted that it would, for I had desires and defiance and powers more than others thought I deserved, all the things that draw the thunderstroke.'
One thing I noticed is that the gods and goddesses of old were pretty tyrannical, judgmental, nasty, angry and petty, even towards their own children, and were certainly not models of the best behavior; whereas today, we like to think of our God as being loving and just, one who expects us to behave in similar ways towards each other.
Some people of today still believe in fate and destiny however, as did Circe. She said it was the Fates bitter joke: 'Those who fight against prophecy only draw it more tightly around their throats.'
Highly recommend this book!

MistyIL

6 months ago

I loved this! Circe's life story and how she interacted with Odysseus. She is a strong female lead!

NeverToLose

8 months ago

This book is a masterpiece. You don't have to know anything about Greek mythology to appreciate Circe. Madeline Miller's Circe exudes "El Duende" spirit.

mantramoon

8 months ago

The first part of the book didn't grab me but I'm glad I kept reading - it got better and better. Definitely a worthwhile read, especially for fans of Greek mythology.

Anonymous

9 months ago

a+page+turner+that+keeps+you+guessing%21%0A

Books_She_Reads

9 months ago

One of the unique qualities of the Greek mythology genre is the number of retellings. I have read a few Greek Mythology centered books over the years, and every time I read one it feels like an old friend with new stories. A story with the goddess Circe was new to me, but many of the gods and goddesses surrounding Circe were not. I felt like I was being introduced to Greek mythology for the first time while reading Circe. It could be that I have not read a Greek mythology book in nearly a year, but I think it has more to do with the flawless talent of Madeline Miller.
“When I was born, the name for what I am did not exist.”
The above quote is the very first sentence of Circe. Do you feel that? Do you feel the possibilities that this quote ignites? As soon as I read it, I loved it. There is power held in that sentence that left me with a feeling of ‘just you wait and see what it is that I become, you have no idea’. And oh my goodness, was this sentence correct. I was taken on a journey spanning thousands of years, most of which Circe spent exiled and disowned. Circe’s story may possibly be the best example of making wine out of sour grapes.
Miller does an excellent job of quickly introducing us to the mythological world that Circe lives in, the characters that surround Circe, and how Circe’s own personality stands in contrast to those around her. I did find the gods and goddess of Circe to be exceptionally cruel compared to other Greek mythology that I have read. I was shocked more than once by their cruelty. It seems that backstabbing and selfishness is a prerequisite to being a Titan or Olympian. Thankfully, I quickly learned that Circe is not like the other gods and goddesses that surround her, both in personality and ability.
Circe could have chosen to live her life of exile bitter and destructive and no one would have questioned it. She simply would have been another goddess doing her immortal thing. However, being the strong, independent female she is, Circe chose to live her existence with a peaceful and delicate connection to the earth. She spends her days exploring every corner of her island, she experiments with her abilities and perfects her techniques.
Circe is an entrancing story about a woman who finds beauty within herself, who goes against all that is around her and forges her own path. Circe is a powerful read that bewitched me from beginning to end; with an ending that I didn’t see coming and couldn’t have been more perfect. I strongly encourage you to place Circe at the top of your TBR list.

rokinrev

10 months ago

“...Something about you Odysseus said about you once... That he had never met a god who enjoyed their divinity less.”
Circe the titan, daughter of Helios and the nymph Perse. Banished to Aiaia forever for defying her father and becoming a witch, she’s simply a scene in the story of the great Odysseus, King of Ithaca, allowing he and his men respite as they return to Ithaca, aiding them to get there with some safety.
However, Madeline Miller has given Circe life. From her childhood obsession with her father, through her acceptance of her banishment through her idyll with Odysseus and beyond, we find a true “witch”, a wise woman who uses her own knowledge and nature to shape her world and those who she touches.
When I first read reviews of this book I was intrigued. The Odyssey of Homer is my favorite book and *most* stories using it as a basis have interested me over decades. And this is no different. In fact, that Circe has been brought to life from the Greek footnote Homer gives her, reflects how women have evolved in and as a part of history and mythology. This book more than deserves the accolades it has garnered and I hope to soon read Miller’s first book:The Song of Achilles”which I actually own. Highly Recommended 5/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from my library system and chose to read and review it]